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Kristin Huang

Minnie Chan

China and the United States appeared to put their South China Sea disputes on the back-burner when their leaders met on the weekend, a move analysts said was to avoid derailing discussion on trade.
There was no mention of the disputed waters in statements released after the meeting, despite the two countries’ deep divisions over the area.
Instead, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump discussed Taiwan, North Korea and regulating the use of the synthetic opioid fentanyl – as well as trade.
China is one of several countries with competing claims over the resource-rich South China Sea.
The US is not a claimant but it has condemned China’s military build-up in the area and sent warships close to China-claimed islets, triggering protests from Beijing.


Hong Kong-based military commentator Song Zhongping said the two countries’ differences over the South China Sea were too wide to bridge, and putting them aside could help them focus on solving their trade problems.
“China stresses its maritime interests in the waters, while the US attaches importance to freedom of navigation. These are different starting points and cannot be easily reconciled,” Song said.
Let the trade war talks begin: China to send big contingent to the United States
Wang Dehua, a South and Central Asian affairs specialist from the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said the major claimants had toned down their demands, helping to calm the troubled waters.
“In the interest of creating a good atmosphere for the talks, China did not think it was necessary to mention the South China Sea issue; and the US knows it does not benefit from dwelling on it,” Wang said.
Both Washington and Beijing described the weekend leaders meeting as a success and said they had agreed not to impose additional tariffs from January 1.
But while the White House said both countries should address seven economic issues of US concerns within 90 days, or the US will raise the tariffs, there was no mention of the grace period in Beijing.

And while China said it agreed to buy more US products based on consumer demand, the US said the amount would be “very substantial”.
The White House also said Xi was open to approving a deal between US chip maker Qualcomm and Dutch rival NXP Semiconductors – something Beijing made no mention of.
In addition, Beijing – but not the White House – said Trump and Xi would visit each other’s countries.
The US silence persisted in relation to Taiwan, while China said the US would respect the one-China policy.
Winners and losers: how the trade war ceasefire might affect the fortunes of China’s partners and rivals
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, told a US delegation on Friday that the United States was Taiwan’s most important strategic partner and the island looked forward to continuing close cooperation and further expansion of ties.
Since Tsai has refused to accept the one-China principle since becoming the island’s president in 2016. The principle is an understanding that there is only “one China”, but each side would have its own interpretation of what constitutes “China”.


In response, Beijing has stepped up pressure against Taiwan, including staging war games around the island and poaching five of Taipei’s allies.
Professor Li Mingjiang, from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said the US position on Taiwan, including sending warships to the Taiwan Strait, might backfire.
“Taiwan is regarded as China’s core interest and if a high-ranking US official meets a Taiwanese leader, the relation between China and US might worsen,” Li said.


What could challenge Washington’s latest strategic goal on Taiwan?

US public backs active role in global affairs, including Taiwan defence, poll finds

Trump recasts US allies as tools to counter China in security playbook: analysts

Why China may be better placed than US in tussle for rare earths

US-China relations

South China Sea on the back-burner while United States and China talk trade

A fighter jet takes off on the deck of the US Navy’s USS Ronald Reagan in the South China Sea in November. Photo: AP

FILE - In this April 12, 2018, file photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, the Liaoning aircraft carrier is accompanied by navy frigates and submarines conducting an exercises in the South China Sea. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who has accused China of "intimidation and coercion" in the South China Sea, is visiting Beijing as the countries increasingly spar over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and Beijing's expanding military presence overseas. (Li Gang/Xinhua via AP, File)

The tiny island with a big role in US plans for the South China Sea

Photo: AP

In this handout photo from the Royal Australian Navy dated July 2, 2015, the crew of HMAS Perth, one of the Royal Australian Navys eight Anzac-class frigates, cheer as they arrive in the Port of Darwin in preparation for the commencement of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2015. The US and Australia kicked off a massive joint biennial military exercise on July 5 with Japan taking part for the first time as tensions with China over territorial rows loom over the drills. AFP PHOTO / ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY / KYLE GENNER ----EDITORS NOTE ----RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE MANDATORY CREDIT " AFP PHOTO / ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY / KYLE GENNER" NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS - NO ARCHIVES

Map of Lombrum Naval Base, Papua New Guinea

epa07160581 (FILE) - A handout file photo made available by the US Navy on 12 November 2018 shows US Navy aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and the guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) conducting a photo exercise with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships, in the South China Sea, 31 August 2018. The US 7th Fleet said that a Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 F/A-18 crashed into the Philippine Sea, south of the Japanese island of Okinawa, on 12 November 2018. The fighter jet was conducting routine operations when it crashed after it 'experienced a mechanical issue.' Its two crew members were safely recovered by a US military helicopter and taken to the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) for medical evaluation after they ejected from the aircraft. The crash is under investigation. EPA-EFE/US NAVY/MC2 KAILA V. PETERS HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

Lorengau, the capital of Manus Island. Photo: Jonas Gratzer

Chinese navy sent to confront USS Chancellorsville in latest South China Sea stand-off

The USS Chancellorsville sailed through the disputed waters on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

US sends guided-missile cruiser to South China Sea to challenge ‘excessive’ Chinese claims

The USS Chancellorsville, seen during its port visit to Hong Kong on November 21. Photo: AFP

News

China

Diplomacy

Differences on the issue too great to warrant bringing up in leaders meeting on the weekend, observers say


Differences on the issue too great to warrant bringing up in leaders meeting on the weekend, observers say.


South China Sea

US-China trade war

US-China trade war: All stories